Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the
Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other
some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached
unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

(1611 KJV)

Then certaine Philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the
Stoikes, encountred him: and some said, What will this babbler say?
Othersome, He seemeth to be a setter foorth of strange gods: because hee
preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.

(1568 Bishops Bible)

Then certaine philosophers of the Epicures, and
of the Stoickes disputed with hym. And some saide: What wyll this babler
say? Other some, he seemeth to be a setter foorth of newe gods: because he
preached vnto them Iesus, and the resurrection.

(1526 Tyndale)

Certayne philosophers of ye Epicures and of ye
stoyckes disputed with him. And some ther were which sayde: what will this
babler saye. Other sayd: he semeth to be a tydynges bringer of newe devyls
because he preached vnto them Iesus and the resurreccion.

Counterfeit Versions

(NIV) A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with
him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others
remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because
Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

(NASV) And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were
conversing with him. Some were saying, "What would this idle babbler wish to
say?" Others, "He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,"--because he
was preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

(THE MESSAGE) He got to know some of the Epicurean and Stoic
intellectuals pretty well through these conversations. Some of them
dismissed him with sarcasm: "What an airhead!" But others, listening to him
go on about Jesus and the resurrection, were intrigued: "That's a new slant
on the gods. Tell us more."

(AMP) And some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered
him and began to engage in discussion. And some said, What is this babbler
with his scrap-heap learning trying to say? Others said, He seems to be an
announcer of foreign deities--because he preached Jesus and the
resurrection.

(NLT) He also had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic
philosophers. When he told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they said,
“What’s this babbler trying to say with these strange ideas he’s picked up?”
Others said, “He seems to be preaching about some foreign gods.”

(ESV) Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with
him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He
seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus
and the resurrection.

(CEV) Some of them were Epicureans and some were Stoics, and they
started arguing with him. People were asking, "What is this know-it-all
trying to say?" Some even said, "Paul must be preaching about foreign gods!
That's what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from
death."

(1901 ASV) And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He
seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and
the resurrection.

(HCSB) Then also, some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers argued
with him. Some said, "What is this pseudo-intellectual trying to say?"
Others replied, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign deities"—because he
was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

(NRSV) Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some
said, ‘What does this babbler want to say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a
proclaimer of foreign divinities.’ (This was because he was telling the good
news about Jesus and the resurrection.)

(NAB-Roman Catholic) Even some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers
engaged him in discussion. Some asked, "What is this scavenger trying to
say?" Others said, "He sounds like a promoter of foreign deities," because
he was preaching about 'Jesus' and 'Resurrection.'

(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) But certain ones of both the Ep·i·cu·re´an and
the Sto´ic philosophers took to conversing with him controversially, and
some would say: “What is it this chatterer would like to tell?” Others: “He
seems to be a publisher of foreign deities.” This was because he was
declaring the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

Here is an omission which concerns itself about a direct witness to the
philosophers. The Gnostics would definitely want this out because it speaks
of Paul directly witnessing to them about the Lord Jesus Christ and the
resurrection. The Gnostics did not believe that Jesus was divine and that He
only was raised in spirit and not in body. This belief is present today with
the Jehovah Witnesses and New Age beliefs where they equate Jesus with other
teachers like Buddha or Confucius. They see Him as an ascended master. Paul
was directly challenging the philosophy of the Epicureans and Stoics. The
Epicureans followed Epicurus (342-270 BC) who taught that nature is the
supreme teacher by supplying feelings, sensations, and anticipations for the
testing of truth. Later his followers saw sensual pleasures as the goal of
life. Stoics followed Zeno of Citium (335-263 BC) and he believed in a
creative power and saw duty, reason, and self-sufficiency as goals of life.
He also encouraged his followers to follow the laws of nature. We can see
why they would have called Paul a babbler concerning the resurrection
because their philosophy was totally tied to this earth. The modern versions
make it sound like Paul was having an evangelism crusade but he was directly
challenging the beliefs of these two philosophical systems which teaches us
that the Gospel can go up against any form of philosophy. We need not shrink
back simply because these philosophical systems seem to be so intense,
instead we hit them head on and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting. These
systems seem to bring much wisdom but in reality, they are Satanism couched
in big words and fantasies.